Phillip Hills was a founder of the Scotch Malt Whisky Association and through this, played a significant role in persuading whisky companies to produce malt whisky for general consumption. He is the owner of The Malt Masterclass, a company specialising in private and corporate tasting classes. He is also the first (and only) holder since 1791 of a private licence to distill whisky which he does for demonstration purposes onhis private still.